Take him out shooting both and let him which gun he would rather use in deer season and not tell him he will get to keep it. I have a 12 year old brother who for last deer season I took out to the range with the brand new .270 I just bought and a .30-30 I had and told him he could use which ever gun he wanted to use. I didn't thell him that if he shot a deer he could keep it. Put less stress on the shot just let him be calm and make it.


To make a long story short he didn't get a deer. So for x-mass I went out and bought him a NEF 12ga. and put it in my tree stand box so he couldnt guess it. His b-day is Jan 31 so I had a box of shells behind me and when he opened it and got all excited I said happy b-day and gave him the shells.

You cant get your first gun with out a box of shells. lol I would say give him the one that he is more comfortable with but all and all the .30-30 can't be beat for shots with-in a 100yards. It has been killing deer for over 100 years. Once it is dead its dead.